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This Glove Fits You With Someone Else’s Fingerprints

The latest wearable isn’t a fitness band or an activity tracker or watch. It’s a glove that outfits the wearer with a whole new set of fingerprints. Researchers say the glove will allow developers to test biometric systems—like the fingerprint scanners at airports and border crossings—with more standardization and accuracy. But could criminals also play a hand in the deployment of this technology? Ananya Bhattacharya, an editorial fellow at Quartz, talks about it in this episode of Good Thing/Bad Thing.

How could a simulated fingerprint like the one created by this 3D printed glove actually be more secure than using a real fingerprint with a fingerprint scanner?

The 3D printer used to create this 3D printed glove is really expensive, about $250,000, do you think that is enough to deter criminals from trying to use it to sneak past fingerprint access systems? Why or why not?

What is anti-spoofing technology? How might sharing the 3D printed fingerprint technology with other researchers help prevent the technology from later being used by criminals?

Use a stamp pad with washable ink and plain white paper to create your own fingerprints, then have students determine whether their fingerprints are whorls, loops, arches, or double loops using this guide.

Researchers have also explored using “brain prints” – unique images or signals of a person’s brain activity – as security keys. Have students learn more by listening to this Science Friday episode about using brain imaging for security authentication and then ask them to argue whether they think fingerprints or “brainprints” are more secure, citing evidence from both the brainprint and 3D printed fingerprint stories.